Hazel Park woman seeks donations for house fire victims

A Hazel Park woman is trying to raise funds to help a neighborhood family that was burned out of their home this week.

“I live across the street from them and they are really nice people,” said Pat Wheeler. “I feel badly for them. They lost everything but the clothes on their backs.”

Hazel Park firefighters were called to the house in the 23000 block of Vassar about 4:15 p.m. Sunday after a neighbor noticed the back of the family’s house was on fire, said Hazel Park Fire Chief Mark Karschnia.

“Crews were able to save a cat and dog, but there were some other pets in the home that died,” Karschnia said. “The family wasn’t home at the time and showed up after we arrived.”

It took about an hour to extinguish the blaze and firefighters spent about four hours at the house.

The house was significantly damaged and Karschnia said Wednesday the house may be a total loss given the amount of fire and smoke damage the blaze caused.

The fire appears to have been caused by an electrical malfunction in the basement.

Wheeler said her neighbor Cynthia Galanek lived at the home with her husband and teenage daughter for many years.

The family is living at a hotel for now, but Wheeler said the family lacks enough money to buy all new clothes and the other supplies they need as they try to rebuild their lives.

Galanek has a medical condition that requires her to use oxygen.

“That poor woman sat in her driveway waiting for her oxygen tanks to be delivered,” Wheeler said. “The whole time she was waiting she had to sit there staring at her destroyed home.”

Wheeler took the Galaneks to a bank to set up an account for donations and is urging people to contribute and help the family get back on their feet.

“I know the community will step up and contribute if they know there is a way they can help,” Wheeler said.